Window sealing strip for a convertible

ABSTRACT

A profiled seal for sealing a side window that can be raised and lowered relatively to a roof frame of an automobile is disclosed. The seal includes a support rail co-extruded with an elongated elastomeric strip. Retaining elements are attached to the support rail and are positioned in spaced relation to one another. The retaining elements have slotted bases and are attached to the support rail using rivets received within the slots. The slots are oriented lengthwise parallel to the support rail and allow the retaining elements to be positionally adjusted. The retaining elements project outwardly from the support rail and are adapted to engage the roof frame for attachment of the profiled seal thereto.

This application is a national stage entry of International ApplicationNo. PCT/EP02/03206, filed Mar. 22, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a profiled seal for sealing a side window panewhich can be raised and lowered relative to a roof frame of aconvertible.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a known profiled seal of this type (described in International PatentApplication WO 01/21425 A1 in the name of the present applicant) a metalsupport rail is used, with which the retaining elements are constructedin one piece. The material of the support rail disposed adjacent tothese mounting areas in the longitudinal direction must be removed insome way, e.g. stamped out. This leads to undesirable waste of thematerial of the support rail.

From German Patent Publication No. DE 43 14 191 C1 in the name of thepresent applicant it is known per se to produce a composite profile fromplastics and elastomers which are chemically bonded to one another.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to avoid waste from the support rail asfar as possible.

This object is achieved by the use of retaining elements disposed spacedfrom one another in the longitudinal direction along a profiled sealhaving a support rail and a profiled elastomer strip. The retainingelements are produced separately and, following the co-extrusion of thesupport rail and the profiled elastomer strip, are subsequently fixed atdesired points on the support rail. The profiled seal is fixed onconnecting parts of a roof frame with fixing elements. Bending theretaining elements into a favorable position for mounting on theconnecting parts simplifies the mounting of the profiled seal on theroof frame of the convertible.

Secure fixing of the retaining elements on the support rail is promotedby a base on each retaining element which bears on the support wall.

By fixing the base of each retaining element to the support rail using arivet received in a slot in each base, the slot extending in parallelwith the longitudinal direction of the support rail, a positive lockingconnection of the retaining elements to the support rail is produced. Ifneed be, an adjustment may be made in the longitudinal direction beforethe fixing of the retaining element.

By gluing the bases of the retaining elements to the support rail, adurable fixing of the retaining element on the support rail is obtainedwhich can be adjusted before its completion.

Alternately, each base may be attached to the support rail by welding,for example, by spot welding in the case of metal partners or byultrasonic welding in the case of plastic partners.

To ensure reliable sealing of the profiled elastomer strip against theconnecting part, the support rail may extend into a foot of the profiledelastomer strip which cooperates in a sealing manner with the connectingpart.

To ensure particularly good sealing and also permit simple fixing of theretaining elements between the sealing ribs on the support rail, thefoot is provided with sealing ribs in the region of long edges of thesupport rail. Each sealing rib extends in the longitudinal direction andcooperates in a sealing manner with the connecting part.

“Curve compatibility” of the profiled seal is improved by making lateralbending of the profiled seal easier by positioning cut-outs on at leastone long edge of the support rail.

Preferably, each fixing element is constructed as a spring clip which isfixed on the retaining element and can be pushed into a receivingopening in the connecting part so as to latch there. This allows aparticularly rapid and simple fixing of the profiled seal on the roofframe to be achieved. If required, this connection can be designed to beeasily releasable.

The support rail may be made from plastic or sheet metal strip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and further features and advantages of the invention are explainedin greater detail below with reference to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through the roof region of a convertiblewith fixed folding roof and attached profiled seal,

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a part of the profiled seal accordingto FIG. 1 on a smaller scale,

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section corresponding to FIG. 1 through anotherprofiled seal,

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the profiled seal according to FIG. 3on a smaller scale,

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section through yet another profiled seal, and

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the support rail.

In all the drawings the same parts are provided with the same referencenumerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to FIG. 1 a roof frame 1 of a convertible is provided with athree-dimensional connecting part 1 formed from sheet metal. Theconnecting part 1 could also be made, for example, from cast aluminum inaccordance with the aforementioned WO 01/21425 A1. A lacquered visibleouter sheet 4 of an associated roof part 5 of a folding roof 6 is beadedaround a flange 3 of the connecting part 2. The outer sheet 4 has aninherently stable peripheral flange 7 which is bent inwards and engagesin a longitudinal groove 8 in a foot 9 of a profiled elastomeric strip10 of a profiled seal.

The outer sheet 4 can, for example, be glued to the flange 3. Thelongitudinal groove 8 is formed in a first long edge 12 of the foot 9.An arm 14 of the profiled elastomeric strip 10 extends outwards from anopposing second long edge 13 of the foot 9 at an angle of approximately90°. A sealing lip 15 is formed on the free long edge of the arm 14 andco-operates with an inner cladding 16 of the roof part 5 to be mountedon the end. The foot 9 and the arm 14 are made from soft rubber.

A membrane 17 of the profiled elastomeric strip 10 is fixed between afree long edge of the arm 14 and the first long edge 12 of the foot 9.In this case the membrane 17 and the sealing lip 15 are made from foamrubber. The membrane 17 co-operates in a sealing manner with a sidewindow pane 19 of the convertible which can be raised and lowered in thedirections indicated by a double 18. In FIG. 1 the window pane 19 isshown by dash-dot lines in its closed end position, whilst the membrane17 is still shown in its unloaded starting position. There is a hollowspace 20 in the interior of the profiled elastomeric strip 10.

A support rail 21 which is made in this case from sheet metal isconnected to the profiled elastomeric strip 10 by co-extrusion.According to FIG. 1 a part of the support rail 21 including its longedges 22 and 23 is molded into the foot 9. Sealing lips 24 and 25 madefrom soft rubber are formed onto the long edges 12 and 13 respectivelyof the foot 9 and are biased against a sealing surface 26 of theconnecting part 2.

A base 28 of a retaining element 29 constructed as a bracket bears on anelastomer-free mounting surface 27 of the support rail 21. The base 28has a longitudinal slot 31 which extends in a longitudinal direction 30(FIG. 2) of the profiled seal 11. A bore 32 in the support rail 21 isaligned with the longitudinal slot. A shank 33 of a rivet 34 penetratesthe longitudinal slot 31 and the bore 32. After the retaining element 29has been optimally positioned relative to the support rail 21 the rivet34 is riveted and in this way fixes the retaining element 29 permanentlyon the support rail 21.

On its free end which is uppermost in FIG. 1 the retaining element 29has a bore 35 which is aligned with the bore 36 in the connecting part2. A fixing element 37 in the form of a screw is passed through thebores 35, 36 and secured by a nut 38. In this way the profiled seal 11is fixed in its optimal relative position on the connecting part 2.

FIG. 2 shows principally how the retaining element 29 extends in thelongitudinal direction 30. For greater clarity the rivet 34 has beenomitted in FIG. 2.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4 is the same as that accordingto FIGS. 1 and 2 with the exception that the retaining element 29 in thecase of FIGS. 3 and 4 is produced as a whole from spring steel. Theupper end of the retaining element 29 is constructed as a spring clip 39which according to FIG. 3 is pressed into a receiving opening 40 of theconnecting part 2 so as to latch there. Thus the profiled seal 11 isfixed immovably on the connecting part. However, in this case theprofiled seal can also be released again from the connecting part. Forthis purpose in FIG. 3 a force is merely exerted downwards and towardsthe right on an upper tab 41 of the spring clip 39 until the spring clip39 has left the receiving opening 40 again. In this way according toFIGS. 3 and 4 the profiled seal 11 can be very quickly replaced in theevent of damage.

FIG. 4 shows how the retaining element 29 extends in the longitudinaldirection 30.

The embodiment according to FIG. 5 differs from the previously describedembodiments in that the support rail 21 is made from plastic which isco-extruded with the profiled elastomeric strip 10. This co-extrusioncan be carried out in accordance with the aforementioned DE 43 14 191C1.

In FIG. 5 the base 28 of the retaining element 29 is glued onto themounting surface 27 of the support rail 21. If the retaining element 29is also made from plastic, it can be durably connected to the supportrail 21 in a simple manner by ultrasonic welding.

The connecting part 2 can be fixed on the roof frame 1 in any way, forexample according to FIG. 1 or 3.

According to FIG. 6 the support rail 21 is provided on its long edges22, 23 with cut-outs 42 and 43. As a result the support rail 21 in FIG.6 can be bent relatively easily about an axis perpendicular to thedrawing plane. This simplifies the adaptation of the three-dimensionalprofiled seal 11 to the installation situation on the connecting part 2.Optionally it is possible for only the cut-outs 42 or only the cut-outs43 to be provided.

1. A profiled seal for sealing a side window that can be raised andlowered relatively to a roof frame of an automobile, said sealcomprising: an elongated elastomeric strip sealingly engageable withsaid side window; an elongated support rail co-extruded with saidelastomeric strip and thereby attached thereto; and a plurality ofretaining elements attached to said support rail and positioned inspaced apart relation lengthwise therealong, each of said retainingelements including a base portion engaged with said support rail, eachbase portion having an elongated slot, a rivet being received withinsaid slot for attachment of said retaining elements to said supportrail, each said slot being oriented substantially lengthwise alignedwith said support rail for lengthwise adjustment of said retainingelements therealong, said retaining elements projecting outwardly fromsaid support rail and being adapted to engage said roof frame forattachment of said profiled seal thereto.
 2. The profiled seal accordingto claim 1, wherein said retaining elements comprise a projectingportion attached to said base portion by a bend positioned in each ofsaid retaining elements that adapts said retaining elements forengagement with said roof frame.
 3. The profiled seal according to claim1, wherein said elastomeric strip comprises a foot adapted to sealinglycooperates with said roof frame, said support rail extending into saidfoot.
 4. The profiled seal according to claim 3, further comprising apair of sealing ribs positioned on said foot for sealingly cooperatingwith said roof frame, said sealing ribs extending lengthwise alongopposite edges of said support rail in spaced apart relation to oneanother.
 5. The profiled seal according to claim 4, wherein said supportrail comprises sheet metal.
 6. The profiled seal according to claim 3,wherein said support rail comprises a sheet metal strip.
 7. The profiledseal according to claim 1, wherein said support rail has lengthwiseextending edges oppositely disposed, a plurality of cut-outs beingpositioned along said edges in spaced apart relation to each other. 8.The profiled seal according to claim 7, wherein said support railcomprises a sheet metal strip.
 9. The profiled seal according to claim1, wherein said support rail comprises a sheet metal strip.
 10. Theprofiled seal according to claim 1, wherein said support rail comprisesplastic.
 11. A profiled seal for sealing a side window that can beraised and lowered relatively to a roof frame of an automobile, saidseal comprising: an elongated elastomeric strip sealingly engageablewith said side window; an elongated support rail co-extruded with saidelastomeric strip and thereby attached thereto; and a plurality ofretaining elements attached to said support rail and positioned inspaced apart relation lengthwise therealong, each of said retainingelements including a spring clip mounted thereon, said retainingelements projecting outwardly from said support rail and being adaptedto engage said roof frame, said roof frame having a plurality ofopenings therein positioned in spaced relation so as to substantiallyalign with said spring clips, said openings adapted to receive saidspring clips to effect attachment of said profiled seal to said roofframe.
 12. The profiled seal according to claim 11, wherein said supportrail comprises a sheet metal strip.